Jerusalem, January 11, 2017...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court that could allow women to read from a Torah scroll at the Western Wall. ADL said the ruling was an important step toward ensuring that women have equal access and treatment at the Western Wall.

The Supreme Court ruled that women would be allowed to read from a Torah scroll at the Western Wall unless the government provided “good cause” within 30 days to stop them. The court also ruled that the Western Wall security authorities must stop subjecting women entering the Kotel plaza to extra body searches, which have been done to stop women from smuggling in Torah scrolls.

"We welcome this Supreme Court ruling as an important step toward ensuring women have equal access and treatment at the Western Wall," said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, and Carole Nuriel, Director of ADL's Israel Office. "The Western Wall is sacred to all Jews, and Jews of all stripes should be allowed to conduct prayer services and Torah readings according to their practice.

"We hope this ruling contributes to the easing of the Orthodox control over religious matters within Israeli society," Mr. Greenblatt and Ms. Nuriel said.

ADL had previously welcomed the Israeli government’s decision to establish a permanent egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, and later expressed concern about the ongoing delays by the government in implementing the plan.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today it is the world’s leading organization combating anti-Semitism, exposing hate groups, training law enforcement on hate crimes, developing anti-bias education programs for students, countering cyber-hate and relentlessly pursuing equal rights for all.